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Withington, Frederic S. (1901-1982)

Catalog Title:

Withington, RAdm. Frederic S., U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Based on three interviews conducted by John T. Mason, Jr., in June 1971. The volume contains 205 pages of interview transcript plus an index. The transcript is copyright 1972 by the U.S. Naval Institute; the interviewee has placed no restrictions on its use.

This memoir concentrates on Admiral Withington's career in the field of naval ordnance. After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1923, he was assigned to BuOrd and then was involved in fitting out the new battleship West Virginia and served in her for five years. He had postgraduate instruction in ordnance engineering, service in the Nevada, a tour at the Naval Gun Factory, and then various staff duties during the 1930s. After another tour in BuOrd, he was in the commissioning crew of the new battleship Indiana and served in her in the Pacific, first as gunnery officer and later as exec. After more BuOrd service, he commanded the test ship Mississippi and the cruiser Manchester. He was a student at the National War College and served with the Atomic Energy Commission. As a flag officer, he was Commander Amphibious Group Three, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, and Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan. He retired in 1961.